Kacie
“Was trying to avoid your Beta’s scorn after he saw you returning without clothes. I like them a little riled up but I almost struggled him to death and you weren’t very happy. I didn’t think it would hurt to warn you in advance,” Clara said. She was wearing a spaghetti-strapped black knee-length dress and she paired it with black combat boots. The orbs hanging from her ears glowed brighter as she faced me.
“Thanks for the warning,” I laughed. “I would like to avoid as many conflicts with you and Jake as possible.”
“He’s not my biggest fan,” she said, “that’s for sure.” Her tone was slightly distasteful but when I searched her face there were no signs of it. “Also, try not to get hurt… I don’t have the power to heal.”
“Is that another warning?” I asked.
“It’s advice that would benefit me,” she said with a smile.
“Oh, okay,” I laughed. “Even without the advice, I think I would try my hardest not to get hurt.” I wasn’t worried about getting hurt.
My smile turned into a frown. I was more worried about hurting others. I would much prefer to be the one getting hurt. I mean that was the whole reason why she was here. She was going to help me practice my gift and gain control over it. I needed to make it safe for those around me as much as possible.
The added bonus of being in control of my gifts and protecting them was an incentive too. I wanted to be able to train with the others again and I didn’t want anyone to be fearful of me losing control as I had with Haley.
Ath didn’t have much to say about that day but I think she was the one who took control after I passed out. It didn’t help that Haley had a past with Viktor but I hoped that hadn’t been what that was about. I shake the thought from my mind and focus on my opponent.
“Are you going to attack first or shall I?” Clara asked. Her voice came out light and whimsical, her usual tone. It didn’t sound at all like she was asking which of us would start blasting first.
Huffing, I decided I would go first. I wouldn’t admit the thought of Clara charging me made me a little more than nervous. I slowly lifted my hand into the air, stopping by my face, and called the heat to the center of my palm.
My body felt warm as heat spread up my arm. More easily than I thought it would, a small spark crackled in my palm. Exhaling, I breathed more into it until it grew and fully encased the entirety of my right hand. I bit my lip to stifle the giggle that wanted to break free.
Excitedly, my eyes found Clara. Her face was expressionless as she watched me. There was no hint of emotion or surprise as she watched me. She didn’t flinch as I started to run towards her. Disapproval lined her features and she shook her head. I was struck with confusion as I came to a stop.
“What?” I asked. She basically told me to attack her. Why was she shaking her head?
“Return to where you were and attack me, try again,” she said.
“Go back to where I was?” I asked as I turned and looked behind me.
“Yes,” she deadpanned.
“Okay… but how am I supposed to attack you from there?” I asked.
“You’re going to project your gift from where you were and attack me.”
“You want me to move my flames over twenty feet?” I asked, my mouth dropping after my question.
“I want you to feel your gift and push it towards me from over there, yes. You need to find it, feel it, channel it and concentrate on what you want it to do,” Clara said.
Breathing out, I closed my eyes and tried to do what she said. I tried to find where the fire in my palms was coming from. After identifying the heat, I followed the warm line going down my wrist and up my arm.
From there it got hazy but before I lost it, I concentrated on the warmth. My eyes flew open when I pinpointed where the heat came from. The heat was pouring out from my chest and I could feel it. It was like a rushing river bursting from the center of my chest.
I did it!
My chest tingled in a strange way as if it was telling me it felt me too. A small light lit up her eyes and she nodded as recognition flared in my eyes. The air around her shifted but I couldn’t be sure what caused it to.
“Now that you’ve found it, try and visualize where you want it to go,” Clara said. “Image it hitting me.” She didn’t smile now but the tone in her voice sounded like she was smiling. I wasn’t sure but I was starting to think Clara was enjoying our little session.
The heat in my chest pulled my attention back to it. I could feel it as if it were a living breathing thing inside my body. Since it was a fire, maybe it was alive. It burned brightly in response. Snapping my eyes shut, I concentrated as hard as I could. I focused on the fire in my hand and tried to picture it flying across the space that separated us. I imagined it hitting her head on. I tried to grab the heat in my chest and push it away from me and towards her.
The heat in my chest flickered as if it heard my thoughts. It burned brighter than it had been and I grew excited at the thought of it listening. Instead, it fought against my will and I don’t know how I knew but it fought against me. It stayed put and it was mentally straining as I tried to force it. I was hit full force with the strength of my gift as it fought back.